High-frequency sequence stratigraphy of the Corcoran Member, Mount Garfield Formation, Upper Cretaceous, eastern Book Cliffs, Colorado

This thesis presents a high resolution sequence stratigraphic framework of the shallow-marine strata within the Corcoran Member of the Upper Cretaceous Mount Garfield Formation. Strata of the Corcoran Member are interpreted to be composed of nearshore marine and nonmarine-to-marginal marine strata.; Strata of the Corcoran Member are interpreted to comprise three high-frequency sequences. The sequence (CR1) consists of two progradationally stacked parasequences, comprised of wave-dominated shoreface successions, and interpreted as deposits of the (HST). The second sequence (CR2) consists of a thin incised valley-fill (TST) overlain by a HST (consists of a wave-dominated shoreface succession). The sequence (CR3) is the most complex stratigraphically; its deposits comprise a complex incised valley. The lower part of the incised valley fill contains channel-fill and related strata (without tidal influence) and is interpreted as part of the LST. Above this, channel-fill sandstone and related strata with tidal influence delineates the base of TST.